How Far Apart Should Siblings Be in Age?

Yes, there are benefits to having more and more children, especially if you love big families.

But you have to make sure that you’re also making decisions that are right for you and your current children, and that means taking into consideration you and your children’s emotional health.If you’ve already had one child and are considering more, it’s helpful to think about when to have more children, and how to determine whether or not you should have a child right away, or whether or not you should wait.

1 Year Apart

BenefitsChildren one year apart can grow together and share experiences.

Caring for kids a year apart is similar (although not identical), and can help you get done with all of your baby rearing in faster time, so that they can all go off to college together and you can finally have peace and quiet.

WeaknessesThere will be a lot of nappies, and they will be quite smelly.

Double the kids also means double the problems at similar ages.

If you have two babies a year apart, that also means that in a decade you’ll have two teenagers a year apart.

Think about it.

2 to 4 Years Apart

BenefitsHand-me-down clothing will not be quite so unfashionable.

Older children can help the younger children with math that you have long since forgotten.

Far enough apart that they should be able to develop their own personalities, yet close enough together for those personalities to not be insanely different.

WeaknessesThe older child rarely understands the concept of “age difference” and may wonder why the younger child is not as smart as they are.

Will be around 18 and 21 years old at roughly then exact same time.

5 to 8 Years Apart

BenefitsPerfect age to have the older child babysit and help you with child rearing. Much easier to have a favourite child without feeling guilty (hint: it will be the smaller one).

WeaknessesWide enough age gap that the kids are going to struggle to play together, meaning you’ll have to spend more time with your kids independently.

Parents will have to re-learn how to handle a baby after years of finally being diaper free.

When to Have Babies

The truth is that it’s not a matter of the age difference between children.

What’s important is how you feel at the time.

If you’re ready for more kids, go for it. If not, wait.

You’ll find enough benefits and weaknesses of all ages.

The most important thing is that you are ready to love and care for both.